BIFR1976 reports that "The first of this family to settle in Ireland was" the following Richard whose name was spelt Townsend, Townesende or Townshend. We have tried to follow the spelling shown by BIFR1976, and so make much use of "Townsend" (without an "h"), but it seems that the spelling varied between generations & different branches of this family. Cross-references from other sources normally favour "Townshend".